gallafent



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-:Sheet 1.

D. GALLAPENT.

' Rotary Engine.

No. 239,481. Patented March 29,1881.

m; m ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D a

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

1). GALLAFENT.

Rotary Engine. No. 239,481. Patented March 29,1881.

WITNESSE CZWW W N PETERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, n C,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

DANIEL GALLAFENT, OF WOOLWIGH, COUNTY OF KENT, ENGLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,481, dated March 29, 1881. Application filed February 19, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England July 16, 188d.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, DANIEL GALLAFENT, a

subject of Great Britain, residing at Woolwich, in the county of Kent, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, (for which Ihave obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 2,936, of July16,.

1880,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animproved rotary 1 engine, which may be driven by steam, coming in-an annular chamber or cylinder, eccentric to the shaftto be driven, (or by which they are to be driven, in the case of a blower or exhauster,) the pistons. being connected with the shaft by means of a disk or its equivalent, keyed on the shaft and furnished with radial slots or guides, by which the pistons are so connected to the said disk that the whole revolve together at the same time that the pistons are free'to recede from and approach the shaft as they revolve in their eccentric orbit. The pistons are in the form of segments of the annulus in which they revolve, the length of the segments or pistons being so proportioned to their number and to the eccentricity of the annular chamber in which they revolve that the adjacent faces of two consecutive segments or pistons shall be close together when at the point of least distance from the shaft. The space between the pistons gradually increases as the pistons, in revolving in their eccentric orbit, recede from the shaft, and

gradually decreases as they approach the shaft. There is no'partition or abutment for the steam in the cylinder itself, the steam pressin gequally on the front and rear faces of consecutive pistons, but with unequal effect, owing to the greater leverage due to the greater radial distance from the shaft of the one piston than the other. The casing or cylinder is provided with induction and e'duction ports, and by so arranging the former that the steam is cut off while theinterval between the pistons is increasing, the steam is worked expansively.

sponding parts.

disk upon the shaft, the latter may have a b When used as a motive-power engine, I prefer that the cylinder and pistons should be in duplicate, with a single radially-slotted disk separating the two cylinders, the pistons being connected in pairs at opposite sides of the division plate by pivots passing through the radial slots.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure lrepresents an elevation of the en gine. Fig. 2 represents a section of the same, taken on line 11, Fig. 8, the pistons, however, being supposed in the dotted position shown in the latter figure. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents one of the cylinder-covers with the covering-ring removed to show the valve and ports.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- A is the shaft, and-B is the duplicate annular' cylinder orcasing eccentric to the shaft, and which shaft rotates in bearings B cas', the covers of the cylinder and provided with. I stuffing-boxes. i

O is the disk concentric with and fast up the shaft A. To prevent any movement of forged upon it, upon which a screw-threat cut, a corresponding screw-thread being in the eye of the disk, which is screwed O.. m the boss and keyed by keys driven into k ways out in the boss and disk. This disk ;:--T of such diameter as to form a partition or inner cover completely separating the two cylinders B, and the disk is inclosed and revolves within a cylindrical chamber, D, of correspondin g diameter and width, so much of said oh amher as is external to the circumferential portion of the cylinder B being, by preference, cast in one therewith, the remainder being formed by parts of the cylinder-covers B The disk fits accurately in its chamber, so as to revolve steam-tight therein.

E are the pistons, each in the form of asegment of the annular cylinder B, in which the 5 pistons are accurately fitted to revolve steamtight, the pistons being provided with suitable metallic packings, or cup-leather packings in the case of a water motor, meter, or pump. The pistons are in duplicate sets disposed symmetrically at opposite sides of the disk 0, to which they are connected in pairs in the following .way: The disk 0 has radial slots 0 extending from near the shaft A to near the circumference of the disk, or the distance required to permit of the revolution of the seg ments or pistons in the eccentric annular cylinder, and yet maintain the connection between fixed in the pistons and turn within the slid ing blocks G. When the disk has through radial slots, the segments or pistons should be of such length as to cover at ,all times that portion of their corresponding slots which crosses the annular chamber or cylinder, so as to prevent any escape of steam through the slots.

I and K are the induction and eduction pipes, connected, respectively, with induction and eduction passages in the cover of the cylinder B.

L L is an annular groove cut in the outer face of each cylinder-cover B opposite the ends of the annular cylinder, and M is a ring bolted on the outside of the cover B and inclosing the groove.

lis a stop across the groove, opposite the point where the annular cylinder is nearest to e the shaft, and the pipes I K communicate with the two ends L L of said groove through the cover M at opposite sides of the stop Z.

n n are series of ports leading from groove L L, through the cover B, into the annular cylinder. Each series commences near the stop 6, and is continued round an equal distance in opposite directions, the distance between the end parts of the two series an being rather greater than the length of the maximum interval between the pistons E, so that the induction and eduction ports cannot communicate with the same space at the same time.

0 is a segment of a ring filling the middle portion of the groove. It is longer than the distance between the end ports of the two series a n, and is fitted to slide steam-tight in said groove, and form a valve separating the induction from the eduction ports, and covering some of one or both series. It has rackteeth sunk in it at back, into which gears a pinion, P, upon a short shaft, P, inclosed steam-tight in a casing, 12, cast on the ring M.

To insure the simultaneous and uniform adjustment of the two valves at the opposite ends of the duplicate cylinder, their two shafts P are geared with and operated by the same longitudinal shaft R, as shown in Fig. 2 or they may be otherwise coupled together.

By shifting the valve 0 the one way or the other, someof the one-series are covered at the same time that some of the other series of ports'n n are uncovered, as required, and

by adjusting the valve to cover more or less of the induction-ports steam will be cut off more or less early by the pistons passing the last'of the series of induction-ports left open by the valve, and therefore worked more or less expansivelv by being cut off before the spaces between the pistons attain the maximum dimensions. I

To reverse the engine, it is only necessary to make K the induction and I the eduction pipe, and to adjust the valves accordingly. A convenient arrangement for this purpose is a four-way cook or valve, S, (shown only in Fig. 1), with which the two pairs of pipes I-I K K of the duplicate cylinder communicate at opposite sides. By turning this cock either pair of pipes I or K may be put in communication with the steam-pipe, while the other pair is connected with the exhaust-pipe.

The engine may be mounted on any suitable frame and work in any convenient position.

I would observe that although I have shown and described pistons and cylinders of rectangular form in cross-sectional area, I do not limit myself thereto, but may use circular, semicircular, or other forms of piston, the cylinder being of corresponding form, but being in all cases an eccentric annular chamber, as above described.

1 would also observe that I do not limit myself to the above-described arrangement of valve, as various other systems might be adopted to effect the same purpose.

Fig.5 is a vertical section of a water or other fluid meter constructed on the same principle, the section being taken on line 3 3, Fig. 6; and Fig. 6 is a plan of the same with the top cover. and registering apparatus removed and parts of the disk broken away to show other parts beneath. In this case, as very little pressure is required to drive the registering apparatus, a single cylinder and set of pistons is sufficient, and it is preferred to arrange the machine horizontally, so that the revolving disk, which in this case also forms a cover for the eccentric annular cylinder, shall rest upon it by its own weight, aided by the pressure of the water or other fluid on the back of the disk.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts as in the previous figures, so that a detailed description is unnecessary.

B is in this case a solid casting with an annular groove, b,in the upper surface, preferably of the half-round form shown in cross-section.

C is the disk with radial slots 0, as before, and revolving on a central spindle, A, eccentric to the groove 1).

E are the segments or pistons fitting in the groove 1).

G are the blocks sliding in the slots C, and H are the pins by which the pistons are connected thereto. a v

L is the registering mechanism, of any wellknown or suitable construction, for counting and recording the revolutions of the disk 0,

driven by a spindle, a, connected with the IIO spindleA of the disk and passing through a stuffing-box on the cover M, screwed or otherwisefixed on the casting Band inclosing the disk 0. In this case the inlet I communicates with the space within the cover and several induction-passages, t, communicating with said space, lead to a channel, i, extending along the bottom of the annular groove 1) a sufficient distanceto admit the Water or other fluid to thespac'es between the pistons almost up to the moment when the said spaces attain their maximum dimension. h is the eduction-channel, also extending along the bottom of said groove symmetrically with channel 41, as shown in the same figure; and K is the outlet communica-ting therewith.

To use the engine shown in Figs, 1,2, 3, 4as a blower or exhauster, it is only necessary to drive the shaft A by any suitable motor, and to place the induction or eduction pipes, as the case may be, in communication with the chamber to be exhausted of or supplied with air but in order to adapt the said engine as a pump for waterorotherliquiditis necessary, as the liquid is incompressible and inexpa-nsive, to remove the valve 0 and replace it by a shorter-segment, which merely serves to sepa rate the two series of ports n it, while leaving both wholly unclosed.

To adapt the engine as a hydraulic buffer for absorbing the recoil of heavy guns, the arrangement last described would be used and the engine would be mounted between the checks of the gun-carriage, the shaft A being fast byits two endsin the same, and the circumference of the concentric cylindrical casing D would be toothed and gear with a rack fixed along the gun-platform.

Instead of the two induction-pipes I and two eduction-pipes being connected together, as above described, each induction-pipe I would be connected to the eduction-pipe K of the same cylinder and throttled more or less by a cock, so as to impede the circulation of the wateror other liquid with which the apparatus is filled, produced by the revolution of the cylinder B about the shaft'A and pistons E as it rolls along the rack.

Instead of a rack, the circumference of D may be a sheave and have a rope or chain lapped round it; or,instead of the shaftAbein g fixed dead, the cylinder may be fixed and the shaft rotate in bearings in the cheeks of the gun-carriage and have sheaves or gear-wheels on its outer ends, to engage with racks or chains, as now practiced with other rotary hydraulicbufiers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

y 1. The rotary engine herein described, consisting essentially of the shaft A, the slotted disk 0, cylindrical chamber D, of like diameter and width with said disk, outer casing, B B B eccentric to said shaft, pistons E, pins H, and inlet and outlet pipes I K, as and for the purposes set forth. V

2. The combination, with the shaft, pistons, pins, and outer casing, of the slotted disk 0, substantially as described, whereby the pistons, in their movements, are allowed to approach or recede from the shaft as the eccentricity of the annular shaft may require.

3. The combination, with the shaft, disk, pistons, pins, and chamber D, ofthe annular cylinder B, eccentric to said shaft, substantially as described, whereby the pressure of steam, although the same on two adjacent pistons, causes said disk and shaft to revolve.

4. The combination, with shaft, chamber, disk, pistons and pins, and easing, the casing B, having series of ports, of the segments 0, working in the annular groove L L, and provided with rack-teeth upon its back, gear pinion-wheels P, shaftsP having pinions on their upper extremities, and connecting-shaft R,provided with pinions meshing with those upon shafts I substantially as described, whereby the amount of steam allowed entrance or egress is regulated.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination, with the inlet and outlet pipes I K, the shaft, chamber, disk, pins, pistons, and outer casing, of the four-way cook or valve S, substantially as described, whereby the motion of the engine may be reversed, as set forth.

6. The combination of the shaft, the annular chamber or cylinder eccentric to said shaft, the segment-shaped pistons revolving insaid chamber or cylinder, the radially-slotted disk fixed concentrically on the shaft and serving as a cover, to said eccentric annular chamber,

and the connections between the disks and the pistons, the whole constructed and operating as herein described and shown.

The above specification of my invention signed by me the 8th day of January, 1881.

DANIEL GALL AFEN T.

Witnesses:

WM. CLARK,

53 Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.

S. W. KENNARD. 

